Bill decriminalizing marijuana statewide in the pipeline

Five counties and eight cities in the state have passed ordinances decriminalizing personal use amounts of marijuana.

A bill scheduled to be heard in a State Senate committee would decriminalize pot in the rest of the state.

The bill that was discussed in the committee was withdrawn before a vote as to not force any members to go on record.

Marijuana Advocates will stay around the Capitol until at least Thursday as part of their annual NORML Lobby days.

With medical marijuana’s sweeping victory in November, it's clear public opinion on the drug has shifted.

Ordinances passed in some of Florida’s biggest cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Miami-Dade County make activists think decriminalization may be on the horizon.

They say right now penalties for marijuana offenses are too high.

A Senate bill scheduled for a hearing would make possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a first-degree misdemeanor with a penalty of $100.

“We're not likely to see this particular bill become law this year, but as we have this discussion and as lawmakers look at what's happening around the state, we expect this is something they're going to do pretty promptly,” said Jodi James of the Florida Cannabis Action Network.

Advocates estimate 30,000 people in the state of Florida are arrested for marijuana offenses each year.

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